Twenty-one Soldiers assigned to Kentucky's 1st Battalion, 623d Field Artillery Regiment (HIMARS), were recently awarded the Army Sea Duty Ribbon (ASDR) for their support to a joint mission alongside the U.S. Navy 5th Fleet during the unit’s deployment to the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) area of operations during fiscal year 2024.

Senior leaders from the Kentucky National Guard and the Djiboutian Armed Forces met in Kentucky from July 21–23, 2025, to celebrate the 10th anniversary of their partnership and strengthen ongoing cooperation. The event brought together representatives from the Kentucky Army and Air National Guard, Kentucky Emergency Management, Urban Search and Rescue, the Office of Homeland Security, the Cabinet for Economic Development, the Chamber of Commerce, U.S. National Guard Bureau, and a delegation from Djibouti.

Kentucky National Guard’s Task Force Aviation helped fight a wildfire July 8 that was threatening the Dević Monastery, a centuries-old Serbian Orthodox religious site in the Drenica Valley.

The Kentucky National Guard’s Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear and high-yield explosives (CBRNE) Enhanced Response Force Package (CERFP) recently completed a rigorous external evaluation, demonstrating its capability to respond to chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and high-yield explosive incidents, July 29 through Aug. 1, 2025.

U.S. Army Col. Natalie Lewellen, a former state judge advocate for the Kentucky National Guard, was promoted to brigadier general at the Herbert R. Temple Jr. Army National Guard Readiness Center in Arlington, Virginia, on April 18, 2025. Her promotion recognized a career of dedicated service and leadership. Currently, Lewellen serves as the Deputy General Counsel – Army at the National Guard Bureau.

The Kentucky Army National Guard honored Roger Cunningham and Nick Feldman by appointing them as honorary guardsmen for their construction work with the Facilities Management Office (FMO) during a ceremony at Boone National Guard Center, Aug. 5, 2025.

U.S. Army Lt. Col. Terry Durham was promoted to the rank of colonel during a ceremony at the Bowman Field Readiness Center Aug. 6, 2025.

U.S. Army Lt. Col. Gabriel Spicer was promoted to the rank of colonel during a ceremony at the Army Aviation Support Facility located on Boone National Guard Center, July 24, 2025. Spicer, who has served in the Kentucky National Guard for more than 20 years, was surrounded by family, friends, and fellow Soldiers as he was pinned with the silver eagle insignia of a colonel — a rank achieved by only a small fraction of officers.

The 1st Battalion, 623d Field Artillery Regiment (HIMARS) of the Kentucky Army National Guard was awarded the prestigious Kentucky Governor’s Outstanding Unit Citation in April 2025 for exceptional service during its recent overseas deployment in support of Operation Spartan Shield and Operation Inherent Resolve.

Soldiers from the Kentucky National Guard's Medical Detachment (MEDDET) and the 1163rd Medical Company Area Support (MCAS) participated in training rotations at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center (LRMC) in Germany in April 2025. Their efforts enhanced Soldier medical readiness and strengthened partnerships with active-duty and host-nation medical personnel.

Surrounded by family, friends and colleagues, U.S. Army Lt. Col. Elizabeth Murphy was promoted to colonel during a ceremony July 22 at Wellman Auditorium at Boone National Guard Center. Murphy, a judge advocate currently on a Title 10 tour with the National Guard Bureau Office of Special Victims’ Counsel, recently transferred from the Indiana National Guard to the Kentucky National Guard Murphy began her military career in 1997 with the Michigan Army National Guard and has earned numerous awards throughout her service.